Wichita eagle., 1887-05-31
4ai19 - eagle
GERONIMO AT EASE.
fHE APACHE CHIEF WRITES A
LETTER 70 HIS FAMILY.

The Captive Indian Braves ae Fort F1cke
sns-Natchez and INCARCERATION for
the Nomad,-Quiet, Submissive, Tract
able and Industrious.
With two exceptions all the capttves are
under size Tho epiderrais dark brown-ai-
most black in some; the hair long. black,
perfectly straight, and Enthusiastically bound by
Knots and handkerchief about the head; eyes
s1nall. keen. and black as jet; face broad and
features sharp; hands and feet sufficiently
unall 20 satisfy We're De We're, and body
thin and 1.-the as that Of the mountain lion;
facial expression sinister, furtive and cunning
as becomes their past environment. Five
months of contact with civilization have de-
veloped latent possibilities, of which their
reasonably neat and clean appearance Is an
index.
Three Of tho seventeen merit, or denferit.
special notice. These are Geronimo, Natchez
and Mnncus. The former is not, as is popu-
larly supposed, the hereditary chief Of his
tribe Like Sitting Bull, be is a medicine
man. and like him c,,'Hf by selection. Head
and brain Of his clanen'en, his influence over
them Is unbouaded. Short end stout OF figure,
with large square head, high slanting fore
head, hooked nose, piercing restless eyes,
Ethiopian skin and hard Of feminine size and
softness, he exhibits sor-, amiable weaknesses
hardly in keeping with his reputed fondness
for Cher" Rarely docs viSitant escape from
his proximity without repeated handshak1ng,
that may or may not ir,ply an invitation to
call again. How old he is he doesn't know,
but he does know that thiIty-two years have
passed away since he married his first wife.
II this event occurred at the age of IS, when
Apache braves generally marry, he must now
Be about So Gercnir-o Is a much married
man, having gone through the nuptial cere-
mony no less than FIVE times. Two OF bis
wives are now prisoners at St Augustine
The hope Of seeing then, again is powerful
incentive to subor?ir7:inn and prompt obedi
snce. He and his companions out to be devot-
ID husbands and parents il conduct be in con-
cord With the tender compositions regularly
transmitted from Fort Pickens to Fort
Marion. The following is a copy Of one of
eeronimo's letters to his two wives and son
and daughter, dictated Of course.
aERoEIs;os LETTER.
NY Dear Wives, Faith-si-es-la and Tsne and
my son and daughter:
sAre you at Fort Marioni II SO how d.
you Hike ID therea Have you plenty to eat,
and do you sleep and drink wslil Send me a
lsstsr and tell me ali the Iows. I am very
we'll satisfied here, but il | only had you with
Inc again would be moro So 1 work every
day, except Sundays. 1t is very healthy to
work My work is not hard. 1t consists of
hoeiug and raking in and around the fort. 1t
seems to me the Great Father and God are
very closely united. do hope he will let u1
Ac tho trpo
bud and bloom in tho spring, so surs Is my
hope Of seeing you again. Talking by paper
Is very good, but when you see ones lips
move and hear their voice it is much better.
saw Gen Miles heard him speak, and looked
into his eyes, and believed what he told me-
and still think he will keep his word. He
told mo that would see you soon, also see u
fine country and lots of people. The people
and the country l have seen, but not you
The sun rises and sets here just the same
rs In our country, but the water here
Is salt. The government is good, and doe
not like to see the Indian imposed on. 1t ha
given us pants, coats with pockets on ono
Shoes and enough - cat. think Of God, tht
president and you III tie same light. l like
you 30 well. When | get your letter | vii
think we'll over it, | hope you think the same
Of me as do of you think you have in1u
ono with tho sun, moon and stars II The
government would only give US a reservation
SO we could support ourselves-oh wouldn'
IL DO flne2 We are at peace now, and by
Gods help will remain SO. There arc seven
teen of us hero, and not ono thinks or act
bad Everybody il well and contentesl
Chatto is bad man, and has caused US lot
of trouble His tongue is like the ratio
snake's-for1ed. Do not let him hear a wore
Of this letter Do what is right, no matter
how you may suffer Write TO me soon {
long letter Your husband, GERONIMO"
Natchez, the true hereditary chief, is fin.
specimen OF Indian hood, over six fee
high, erect, well proportioned, grave and dig
nifed under his weight of so years. The res
Of the band treat him with pronounced re
spect His words are fe.v, and his dislike o
that fierce light which heats upon royalty O
all grades most erlrh' il.
Mangus 4, en- intra ABLE savage. His arm
Is still in bandases from tho effects OF in jury
received while on L:s way to Pensacola
When nearing that city, at the rate Of for..y
miles an hour. MaIguS suddenly spran;
through the car window and was stunned 10y
sudden collision with the ground. Regsinins
consciousness simultaneously with recapture
he was put in irons until the final destinatio:
was reached. Then, to bis great joy TIN
handouts were removed.
RATIoHs FOR THE NoMADs.
Two dingy old easements in the interior o
the fort each containing a large open fire
place, furnish comfortable accommodatiou
to these uncomfortable nomads. Here pro
visions. consisting of the regular army IA
lions, are prepared by an Indian cook as
signed to that duty. Salt pork is inflpite.,
less to their taste than fresh beef. and j
cooked by frying after first soaking and boil
Ing out ali the brine. Fresh fish, which Pen
sacola bay supplies in choicest variety, is stil
les relished, but is slowly coming into use
Ulad in soldiers fatigue suits. the prisoner
are much more presonuabie than when at
tired in Indigenous costume Several hav
found or been presented with old broat
brinimed hats. But high topped shoe
constitute their especial vanity. Mangu
evidently prefers his to the time honore,
moccasin, and blacks them about four time
every day
Glad to be beyond the reach of Arizon
Justice, every member of the band is quiet
submissive, tracts bic and Industrious Shovel
rake, saw aud AK have already become ia
mihar tools. The wheelbarrow proved to
IS intractable, at first, in the hands OF Gero
nino "a a bucking broncho in those of
meGopoutan Quoe, Du. ne Is SSiu 10 EaN
achieved complete triumph over the singula
implement. Tho deztsrous grace with whic
he swings the sounding az is not exceeded b.
that with which be was wont to fling til
tomahawk. Work as Yet Is simply sinuSt
ment No more tantastic toilers than Ties
willing Apache warriors can be found in a
the sunny south. One Of the undistinSuishe
braves evinces considerable artistic abilit
and delights In making colored sketches @
the sergeant of the guard.
Observers find il difficult to regard the pri!
oncrs as criminals worthy Of death. Visitor
cordially shake them by the hand and wish {